This year, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) sponsored three rock concerts for teens to enhance the awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention among students. The first rock party took place in Taichung city. To express his concern about HIV/AIDS prevention, Jason Hu, the Taichung City Mayor, participated in the event "Love Rock'n Roll & Fight AIDS" hosted by two Rock Records bands and the members of popular music clubs in 5 senior high schools in Taichung City. Mayor Jason Hu enjoyed the music with all young students in the rock party, stressing the importance of practicing safe sex and encouraging them to show love and care for HIV/AIDS carriers.

Based on statistics compiled by Taiwan CDC as of September 2013, the cumulative number of reported HIV infections is 25,954, of which 2,763 people (10.65%) reside in Taichung city. In the past four years (2010-2013), 285 young people aged between 15 and 24 were newly diagnosed with HIV infections in Taichung City, accounting for 30.4% of the total new HIV infections during the period. Additionally, unsafe sex was the major cause of those new HIV infections. The situation among adolescents keeps getting worse. Taiwan CDC pointed out that HIV-infected adolescents have to receive long-term anti-HIV drug therapy, which causes side effects that can have great impact on these young patients' quality of life and and education. We cannot stress enough the importance of raising the awareness about HIV-AIDS prevention among adolescents, said Taiwan CDC.

In his opening speech, Mayor Hu said that we should face the problem that more and more young people are becoming infected with HIV every year. The average age at first sexual intercourse has been decreasing significantly in recent years, thus underscoring the importance of HIV/AIDS campaign on campus. We should not underestimate the risk of HIV/AIDS. Success in HIV prevention cannot be achieved only by the government; in other word, we all need to have comprehensive and correct knowledge about how to prevent HIV infection and protect ourselves. Do not engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, Hu added, thus minimizing the risk of falling victim to HIV infection.

In the afternoon of October 26, 2013, a 2-hour-long rock party took place on the campus of Taichung Industrial High School (臺中高工), which brought together officials of Taiwan CDC and the Taichung City Government, staffs of Rock Records Company (滾石集團), students and the members of popular music clubs in 5 senior high schools in Taichung, including Taichung Industrial High School, Taichung Home Economics and Commercial High School (臺中家商), Taichung Municipal Chang Yie High School (長億高中), National Dali Senior High School (大里高中) and National Wufeng Agricultural & Industrial High School (霧峰高工). Taiwan CDC used the rock concert to deliver HIV/AIDS prevention messages and urge all young people to avoid unsafe sex behaviors, respect yourself and your partner, use a condom during sex and live a life with no regrets.

This year, Taiwan CDC cooperated with Rock Records Company to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention. Singers from two Rock Record bands, FUN4 and io, together wrote a song, “Solution”, using teens’ favorite music to tell the young audience to use condoms correctly in order to reduce the risk of HIV infection. The rock singers also told them that shaking hands or hugging with people infected with HIV/AIDS does not spread the disease, but spreads love and warmth.

In order to attract more young students to join the event via the Internet, Taiwan CDC has launched an online game called "Safe Sex and Safe Singing". Participants may acquire correct knowledge and information about HIV/AIDS prevention in this game, which is now available until December 10, 2013. To play the game, please visit http://2013aids.tw/. Just follow three simple steps--write down what you want to tell your friends, pick your favorite song and publish the post on your facebook wall, you could be the winner of some amazing prizes such as a 2.5-inch 1TB mobile hard drive and some supermarket gift vouchers.